Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-04-22

Mrs. Miller says the funeral Will be
tomorrow
"And they never sent me q word
of message Well, that beats! But
then we ought to make allowance
for folks, when there's death in
the family, and so much grief and
trouble, and such a lot OF things to
attend to. Besides, it mightn't be
convenient to get a horse and a
boy to come fifteen miles to let us
know; so all the same, we'll go to
the funeral. 'Twouldn't look friend
| ", nor like kin, not to do so; and
you can 90 along with us, Fanny,
being Johns sister-in-law. They'd
take it kindly Of YOU
"And there's Mrs. Hill," said
Fanny. "She's some sort O kin to
the Coles on the old mans side
Maybe she and her daughter would
like to 60, as they've got Il carryall
of their own. III just run round
and let her know
Mrs. John returned to her dump
lings, with a deep sigh.
alt does seem heartless and I'M
feeling to be making apple.dump-
lings for dinner and ones husbands
kin lying dead in her coflin,' sheEe-
marked to her halfgrOwn daughter.
Lucky, there's that cake we made
for Sundays meeting. I'll take it
with me, for there'u be a sight of
folks from distance come to the
funeral, and some of 'em will have
to stay to dinner. And you can get
a good basket of grapes out of the
garden, Lizzie. They're early and
won't come in amiss.'
"And we must have plenty of
white flowers, you know, ma" said
Lizzie in lively excitement and an
ticipatiOn; "and III wear a black
sash with any white dress, like
Judge Martins daughters at old
Miss Martins funeral.'
"We'll all wear our black dresses,
said Mrs. Cole. "It looks more re-
specttul.llke; and I'm told it's the
fashion at funerals, even where
there's no KIM
$50, next morning, bright and
early two vehicles were seen to
leave the little village, closely
crowded with black-robed figures,
most OF whom carried wreathes and
punches of white flowers.
In this part Of the country 1t was
the custom to have all "buryings'
at precisely one o'clock, so the
party had no tear of being too late
for the funeral.
Mr.. John Cole drove his own wa
gon, and Mrs. Hill hers, contain
ing her daughter and couple OF
neighbOrs, who, having slight ac'
Qualntance with the Barnville Coles
considered it but friendly and re-
spectiul to the family to attend the
funeral.
They went at a brisk rate until
they approached Barnville, whose
principal street they entered at a
proper and becoming funeral pace,
at does seem to me as if sort
O shadder hangs over the place to-
day." Mrs. Hill observed, as she
looked from under her spectacles
at the people passing. "PoOr old
lady her death will be felt, for a
better woman never lived.'
"LoOk there's the house, with
the parlor- windows shet, and, l de-
clare, little Jenny Cole carrying
in cheers ~
"And just see that pile of old ivy
rubbish at the foot of the back steps
They've been fixing up the parlor
with earrings on the wallis" said
another.
"Andyonder's the minister, across
at the 'pOthecary's, talking to Jaems
/ Cole himself exclaimed Mrs Cole
"And he in his everyday clothes,
and looking not a bit dOwncast.-
We'll, l suppose he hasn't had time
to dress y
They alighted at the front-door
where they were met by Master
johnny, who, suddenly boiling out
nearly knocked down stout Mrs
, Hill before he knew it.
"Well, Johnny, how are you 2
said Mrs. John, in a tone of com
miseration. "And how is your
poor ma, Johnny?'
"She's very well, / thank yer
ma'amw answered Johuny, with
parrot.like politeness, while staring
round upon the visitors with
beaming cOuntenance.
dwell, Johnny, show US the way
and go and let your folks know
that we're here. lie don't seem tC
care Bit" she added as the boy
skipped off; "but them" looking
around on her own eager.eyed of
spring, "children never can realize
the awfulnesss Of DEATH
They walked solemnly into the
parlOr, the door of which Johnny
had proudly thrown open, and seat
ing themselves in a black row
against the wall, rigidly awaited
the appearance Of one Of the family
ats mighty strange that the
coffin isn't in here,D whispered Miss
Bates. "And such a show of flow
ers All sorts Of colOrs, too !"
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